4-star DL on Gators: ‘They’ve been talking to me, calling me every day’
It was nearly a year ago when Florida came calling with a scholarship offer for Hattiesburg (Miss.) defensive lineman Kevin Oatis. He then made his way to Gainesville this past January.
The 4-star prospect has yet to release a list of top contenders, but it’s safe to say the Gators are doing just fine.
According to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, Otis is the No. 20 defensive lineman and No. 256 prospect overall.
“Ever since the visit, they’ve been talking to me, calling me every day, telling me how I’m a priority down there at the Swamp,” Oatis told Gators Online. “They love my film and want me to come down there and make an impact.”
Spearheading Florida’s pursuit of the 6-foot-1, 280-pound junior is not one but several staff members.
Those include Billy Napier, defensive line coach Gerald Chatman and assistant defensive line coach Luis McLeod.
“Coach Napier will text me and see how I’m doing. Coach Chatman and McCloud, as d-line coaches, they tell me about my game and stuff I can improve on,” Oatis said.
“That’s something I like. Watching my film, a lot of schools don’t do that. They recruit you but don’t study you as a player.”
It sure doesn’t hurt Oatis has been communicating with Gerald Chatman since his freshman year as well.
“He’s been recruiting me ever since he was at LSU and Tulane, telling me how good of a player I am,” Oatis said of Chatman. “I went to the LSU camp with Tulane and he loved what type of player I am.”
Oatis could be in Gainesville sooner than expected
For Oatis and the Gators, the next step is to schedule an official visit.
Conversations are underway and could lead to a confirmed date as early as next week.
Arkansas (May 31), USC (June 7) and Mississippi State (June 22) are schools locked into the calendar.
“Next week, I might go back up there and then sit down with them and talk about an official visit,” said Oatis. “Me and (coach Chatman) are texting right now seeing when I would be able to come down there.”
With all that said, where does Florida stack up against Oatis’ additional top suitors?
“They’re at the top right now,’ said Oatis. “I’m close to making a top six or eight, and right now, they will be in my top schools. They are still a top priority for me.”
Mississippi State, according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, is trending with odds of 86.4 percent.
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
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